Chain



A. 23, 1949.. J} A. GOODE CHAIN Filed April 29, 1948 I6 is Patented Aug. 23, 1949 CHAIN John Alan Goode, Birmingham, England Application April 29. 1948, Serial No. 24,078 In Great Britain August 28, 1946 4 Claims.

This invention relates to chains, and although applicable to chains generally, is primaril intended for application to chains used for personal wear, or ornaments, such, for instance, as flexible bracelets.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction.

A chain constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises links which are connected together by providing one of each adjacent pair with an end portion having lateral projections, which end portion is passed through an openin in the adjacent link and prevented from returning by folding the longitudinal edge portions of the said adjacent link inwardly so as to reduce the eifective width of the opening. For instance, the chain may comprise two types of link, i. e. inside links which are of approximately H form having lateral projections at both edges and at both ends, and links in th form of open frames through which the end portions of the adjacent link can be passed, after which the longitudinal edge portions of the frame link are doubled inwardly until they lie against one side of the link with their edge portions overlapping the longitudinal sides of the opening, thu reducing its efiective width and preventing the withdrawal of the end portions of the companion link.

When constructed for use as a flexible bracelet, all the links may be bent into curved form in the side view so as to conform to the contour of the wrist. This may be done before assembly in the case of the links having the lateral projections, and may be done after assembly in the case of the open-frame link.

The invention is illlustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shOWs a metal blank from which the one type of link shown in Figure 2 is made, Figure 2 being to a larger scale than Figure 1 and Figure 3;

Figure 3 shows the blank from which the frame link is made;

Figure 4 shows the method of interconnecting the two links; and

Figure 5 shows part of a finished chain.

In the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, each of one set of links is made from a metal blank (Figure 1) of H form having a central part I!) connecting two end limbs H. The end limbs H are folded or rolled (as in Figure 2) into cylindrical form, and the link as a whole is then bent into curved or similar form 2 with the cylindrical heads l2 at its ends disposed on the concave side.

The companion links l3 are of rectangular form and are provided with rectangular openings M of a width equal to the length of the head formed at the end of the H link.

The heads l2 at the ends of two of the H links are passed into and through theopenings M of a frame link I3, and the longitudinal edge portions I5 of the frame link l3 are each folded about aline l6 parallel to the longitudinal edges and preferably disposed between the longitudinal edges of the opening and the outside edges of the link. The two portions 15 are doubled inwardly until they lie against the surface of the link with the longitudinal edge portions I5 overlapping the sides of the opening, and thus reducing its efiective width so that the heads [2 of the H link cannot be withdrawn. The space between the longitudinal edges of the folded-in parts of the frame link I3 is preferably slightly greater than the width of the intermediate parts of the H link.

When the links have been assembled together in the manner described the frame links I3 can be acted upon by suitable tools so as to bend! them into curved or similar form conforming to the contour of the wrist, so as to give a chain having curved links as shown in Figure 5.

In the completed chain the cylindrical end portions 12 of the H link are disposed on the inner side of the chain.

The length of the opening in the open frame link l3 should be a little greater than twice the width or diameter of one of the heads l2 on the H link, but should not be so great as to allow the H link to be detached from the open frame link. The diagonal of the said opening after the folding-in of the edges should be rather less than the length of the head of the H link.

The head l2 instead of being of circular cross section may be flat, or of any other shape in cross section. Further, instead of forming the head by bending the metal into tubular form, the head may be solid, in which case the links and head may be made as stampings.

What I claim then is:

1. In a chain, adjacent pairs of links, each pair comprising a link with an end portion having lateral projections and a link having an opening therein of which corresponding to the length of said projections and of length not substantially greater than twice the width of said projections, said links being connected together by passing said end portion of the first link through the opening in the second link, longitudinal edge portions of said second link being subsequently folded back on said link so as to extend over opposite edges of said opening, thereby to reduce the efiective width of said opening and to prevent Withdrawal of said first link.

2. In a chain, adjacent pairs of links, each pair comprising a link of approximately H form having latemli projections at both: edges andi at both ends anda llnkinthe form'of frame having a substantially rectangular opening therein of width corresponding to the length of said proljections and of length not substantially greater than twice the width of said projections, said links being connected t0gether'by1 passing-1, aniend= portion of the H form link through the opening in the frame link, longitudinal edge? portions of? said frame link being subsequently folded back on said link to extend over opposite edges. Qfithfi? opening by an amount reducing the width of the opening tdthahof. the; central portionoi the H- form link, thereby to preventvwitlid'rawal' ofisaid l-iilink-- In a-chain adjaeenttpairaof1inks,-.each..pair comprising allink ionmed from.atmetall.blanki of approximately H.- term having lateralipr oiections et-bothledges and atrhoth .end's,,said endiprojections being. rolled: tmfonm; cyflindnical' heads, and ailinki in the: form. ofaniopen frame;- said.links being; connected together by-v passing the endpontion: of, the; H: iorm, link through the Opening in the frame link, longitudinal edge portions of said frame link being subsequently folded inwardly until they lie against one side of the frame link with their edge portions over-lapping the longitudinal sides of the opening to reduce the dicetive width of said opening so as to prevent withdrawal of said H link.

In atohaain adjacent pairs ofi' links, each pair comprising a* link of approximately Hform bent into curved formation, having lateral projections at both edges and at both ends and a link in the form of an open frame bent into curved formation, said links being connected together by passing an end portion of the H form link through the opening in the frame link, longitudinal edge portions" of said frame link being subsequently folded inwardly to reduce the effective width of saidaopening so as to prevent withdrawal of said H links; the curvature: of said links being such astoaconform to. the contour of a wrist.

Name: Date Sehraysshuen, May 22. 1923 Number 

